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The Oldest Chess Set in the Western World

The Isle Of Lewis Chess Set has legendary status and is probably the second most recognisable set of iconic chess pieces after Staunton. They gained their name from the isle of Lewis in Scotland. On a fateful day in 1831 they were discovered buried in a chest when a sand bank collapsed. It is thought that the Lewis chessmen were carved from Walrus Ivory and were actually made in Norway hundreds of years before they were re discovered. The story of how these amazing chessmen were created, lost for hundreds of years and then found again is a fascinating one. There still remains much debate about the true origins of the set and who it belongs to. Currently the original pieces are split between the National Museum Scotland and the British Museum. So they have remained on British shores. In fact both museums have become quite an authority on the pieces and have produced some amazingly accurate sets that are for sale here at Regency Chess

Mini Isle Of Lewis Chess Set

The SAC Mini Isle of Lewis Chess Set is available with fast and free shipping from UK stock. These lovely little chessmen are a superb example of the Lewis chess pieces. Due to the proportions of the Lewis chessmen it's often the case that they sets are very large when combined with a board. For those with limited space these mini versions are ideal. We also sell them combined with a chess board for the completed look.

Lewis Chessmen

There is little doubt the the Lewis Chessmen are one of the worlds most iconic design of chess piece. They are shrouded in mystery and wonder and have an incredible back story behind them. Not only do they have an incredible story to tell, but the design is absolutely fantastic too. It's worth noting that over a hundred pieces were discovered and a selection was made from these to create various different chess sets. This is why there are a few variants of Lewis chess pieces in circulation. There is little doubt that the Lewis chessmen have become one of the most iconic and popular designs of chess set in the world, second only to Staunton. They are certainly our second largest selling set!

National Museum Scotland Isle of Lewis chess sets

Over the years that we’ve been trading we have sold many different brands of Lewis chess set, there is however little doubt about who produces the very best set on the market. The product team at the National Museum Scotland have produced a range of Lewis chess sets that are without doubt the best we have seen.

One of the things that makes their Lewis sets so good is the accuracy, they are lovingly crafted in the United Kingdom from laser scans of the actual original pieces. Where as all other Lewis sets in production are essentially copies of the originals, albeit some are extremely good, the museum sets are as close as you’ll ever get to the real thing.

The other amazing thing about the official museum sets is how they are packaged. They come in superb gifted box packaging with an extreme level of presentation which makes them the ideal gift.

We have taken the Lewis chessmen from these sets and combined them with some of the worlds finest chess boards to create some of the very best Lewis chess sets on the market. If you’re looking for a heritage set that will last for decades then we are sure to have something for you.

Isle of lewis chess set british museum

It would only be fair to mention the other major museum that produces excellent sets of Lewis chess pieces. The British museum is another major authority on the subject of Lewis chess pieces, they have many of the actual pieces in their possession. We are delighted to be retailing one of their sets alongside the rest of our comprehensive range.

lewis chessmen stornoway

The Lewis chessmen have had many names over the years. By far the most popular name is 'Lewis' but they have been called 'The Uig chessmen'. All of these names relate to the place where the set was found in the early to mid 1800s. Uig and Stornoway are both places on the Isle of Lewis, Stornoway being the closest town and Uig being the general name for the area. These mystical figures are also known as the Viking chess pieces which has been a source of debate over the years. It's thought that the original pieces were actually made in Norway hundreds of years before they were unearthed in Lewis. Some people believe that the pieces should be returned to their native land and have less association with their place of re discovery.